A travelling exhibit rarely seen in Ontario is expected to draw thousands of people to St. Alfred Catholic Church beginning Wednesday.

The Man of the Shroud exhibit explores the history, significance and scientific aspects of the Shroud of Turin, believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus.

The display, on loan to the parish from the Vancouver Shroud Association, includes a life-sized replica of the shroud, as well as replica artifacts related to the crucifixion of Christ.

It will be featured at the Vine Street church until March 8.

Tony Bozza, who chaired the church committee that spent months organizing the exhibit’s arrival, called it a “great honour” for the St. Catharines church to host the display, particularly during the season of Lent.

“It presents a special opportunity for those wishing to make the shroud a part of their Lenten experience,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the opening with great anticipation.”

The exhibit has been travelling the country since 2004 and only a couple of locations are selected to host each year, director Carolyn Wharton said.

This is only its third time in Ontario.

Wharton called it an “incredible experience” to see the replica in person.

“(Scientific testing) done on the (actual) shroud to date cannot prove it is not the burial cloth of Christ,” she said, calling it the “most researched mystery in the history of the world.”

As a result, 15,000 people from Niagara and beyond are expected to visit the church during the weeklong event.

That will include 1,200 Niagara Catholic elementary and high school students who will take in presentations by Shroud scholars John Iannone and Barrie Schwortz.

Both Iannone and Schwortz will give several presentations that are open to the public.

Schwortz, official shroud photographer with the Shroud of Turin Research Project of 1978, will speak on March 3 and 4 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on March 5 at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Iannone will speak March 6 at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and March 7 and 8 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

To accommodate the crowds, an overflow room with a live stream of the presentations will be set up.

Descriptive information panels will be on display around the church to share the historic and scientific significance of the artifacts. A film played in a separate room will also share the history of the shroud.

There is no cost to see the exhibit or attend the presentations, but donations are accepted.